Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-04-28
The Gamblers Rescue.


Of New Orleans Of a somewhat SIM
gular construction. It's low, narrow
front was on the Rue Royal, near the
corner of Bienville, with a massive
oaken door literally bound with large
bars Of iron, which none of the neigh
, bors ever remembered to have seen
opened during daylight. But after
dark, and especially towards the noon
of night, the case was very different.
Then, anybody who would take the
pains to watch unobserved, might
perceive and count scores, and even
hundreds approach. although not
more than one or two at time, and
by giving three distinct. and, as it
seemed, peculiar knocks, and whis-
pering some secret signwords ia the
porter ear, receive admission. How
ever, of all those thus entering, not
ore was beheld departing, and hence
the inference might be drawn, with
absolute certainty, that they found
some other place of exit. 1t appear.
ed also probable that most of these
nocturnal visitors desired to conceal
their personal identity, as they were
generally the most numerous in cloudy
or rainy weather, and in hours of the
! most intense darkness and they
always came muitied up more or less,
SO as nearly, or altogether, to hide
their features.
A stranger, who had examined only
specifically the paltry breadth of the
building in front, would have unhesi-
tatingly denied its capacity for con-
tanning such numbers as there usually
rendezvoused; but on a closer in
sPection, it could not fail to be no.
ticed that ample amends was made by
the uncommon depth of the structure,
running back as it did almost to
Bourbon street, and having besides,
suite of Easements, or rather cavern
Gus subterrauean apartments, desti-
tute Of any external entrance, and
without any illumination save what
was produced by artificial means.
AT thu date when the incidents
happened which | am about to relate,
there was a cold Christmas night,
long remembered in the South as an
extraordinary occurrence for such ge-
nial ATTITUDES. The wind blew almost
a hurricane, while the mingled snow,
sleet and rain drove everybody from
the streets and thoroughfares who had
any roof for shelter, or who was not
kept out by the power of some mighty
motive or strong passion. The chill
seemed piercing even to the very
marrow, and through the thickest
clothing people shivered over the fire
in the warmest mansions, and the
poor houseless begsars covered down
wherever they could find a sequester-
ed corner and several of them actually
froze to death.
1t was about the middle OF this tenn
pestuous night, when a solitary fe
male might be seen advancing with
timid and faltering steps down the
Rue Royal, from the direction of Ca
nal street, until she reached point
Immediately opposite the old frame
building previously described, when
she paused, as if uncertain as to her
further progress, and leaning against
a lamp-post, gave way to an uncon-
trollable paroxysm of the most terri
bic and hopeless grief. What unac.
countsble cause could have brought
this woman of sorrow out into these
dangerous streets at such an hour Of
pitchy darkness, and in defiance of
the bowling storm? 1t could not be
the Pitiless hand of poverty, for the
hickering rays OF the lamp above her
head revealed enough of her dress to
show that it was Of the richest mate
rial, Notwithstanding its drenched
and dropping condition from the rain,
while diamonds sparkled on her fng-
ers, and heavy watch chain of pure
gold eucircled her neck. A single
glance only was sufficient to render
apparent her Incompatible beauty,
although the brilliant fire of her dark
eyes looked dim through one contin-
uous flow OF tears, and her face was
pale, and the loveiness of her coun-
tenance, 10. the moment, in some de-
gree marred by agony that shook her
soul to the Utmost centre, and which
was depicted on every feature.
Whatever might be the occasion Of
her coming forth into the dismal tenn
pest, it had something to do with the
old frame house before alluded to.
for she repeatedly cast her eyes to-
wards it with mouruful and anxious
EXPRESSION. and AZ lanrth crossed over